Fifty Plus (50+) - Check before riding

Seeing as how Nos88 has proved that accidents can happen through bad maintenance--It set me thinking about pre-ride checks that I do to save the embarrassing Incidents.

I suppose my preride checks start on the previous ride. The gear change that is not going correctly will be adjusted . The brake blocks will be checked on a regular basis for alignment and wear, and while cleaning the bike post ride- I will be finding the Bits that have become loose on the ride. Tyres will be checked for nails or apparant thorns and tears in the rubber- And the wheels will be spun to check for trueness


Then before I Take the bike out- I will run through my routine. Check tyre pressures and and that the chain is lubricated (Just in case I forgot to oil it after I cleaned it) Check the quick releases are tight enough, and that the bars and saddle are in the place that I left them after the last ride.

So How about the rest of you? Or do you just take the bike out of the Garage and ride it till it falls apart?

I mostly pay attention to how the bike performs on all rides, and if I notice something I fix it. Pre-ride checks are limited to tire pressure with the "thumb gauge" if it feels hard it must have enough air. I can only recall one incident where I was stranded by mechanical failure. That was many years ago when the bearing ring on my freewheel came unscrewed and dumped all the bearings out. Being older and smarter, now I would have screwed the ring back on and ridden home, but back then I hitched a ride back home.

Carefully checking tire pressure before every ride stopped my pinch flat problem.

I use the LAB ABC Quick check system before every ride ... Air Pressure, Brakes, Chain, Quick Releases.

+1
I could not imagine not checking tire pressure before each ride. I see drops in pressure as much as 40lbs between rides.

1) Tire pressure, always.
2) Clean chain with WD-40 and re-lubricate often. Always after riding on a limestone trail.

Everything else, see the LBS.

Kick the tires, light the fires!:D

Being the trigger for this thread, I thought I'd chime in. On all outdoor (that is to say non-bike-in-a-trainer) rides: Check tires for cuts, check air pressure, check brakes, check spokes, check head set adjustment, and spin pedals backwards to check chain. While riding, any unusual sounds, vibrations, etc. I pull over immediately and check them out. Until today, I never checked anything on a bike in the trainer. That will change to: check seat, handlebars, and that the rear wheel is securely fixed in the trainer.

+1
I could not imagine not checking tire pressure before each ride. I see drops in pressure as much as 40lbs between rides.

Same here. I've been riding 25 seasons and it's a rare ride that I don't top off the tires and check the pressure.

I bounce the bike. If one end doesn't bounce back, it means I've got a tire problem. Any other problems I would know about from the previous ride. As far as airing the tires, I usually top them up every three days. If the pressure has dropped to below 100 lbs, I know I've got a slow leak.

- L.

Check cleat bolts are tight in shoes.

Every so often check Saddle retaining bolt

george

I basically treat my bike like a car -- just take it and go, but bring it in to the shop for preventative service every three months.

I'll check the tire pressures every few weeks -- that's how long it takes the tires to lose significant air.

Paul

I top up the tires at least every few days, and I periodically inspect the wheels for loose spokes and lateral run-out, the cables for fraying, and the tires for cuts. As I ride, I pay close attention to how everything functions, and I do all of my own mechanical maintenance and repair work.

I'll check the tire pressures every few weeks -- that's how long it takes the tires to lose significant air.

Paul

I don't know what significant means, but my tires lose approx. 10% in a couple days. That's enough to affect performance and increase the chance of pinch flats.

My husband does the maintenance on my bike but I do check air pressure, brakes and cables and other visuals before I ride. If I hear a funny noise while I'm riding, when I get back I tell my mechanic (husband) about it and he always finds the problem. I figure I have saved a bundle having a husband who is so handy. :D

Tire pressure absolutely. Keep ear open for any chain noise, and carry some lube with me if I hear that dreaded dry sound - and lube on the road, as I did today. I also lube other's chain as the occasion may arise (i.e., one lone tourer our in the middle of the desert who had forgotten his lube bottle and was really dry).

Annual checkup.

Just look it over carefully.

I periodically inspect the wheels for loose spokes and lateral run-out.

I clean my bike after every ride and re lube the chain. Before each ride I check the tire pressure and now give it a once over for loose nuts and bolts.

What is lateral run out?

I clean my bike after every ride and re lube the chain. Before each ride I check the tire pressure and now give it a once over for loose nuts and bolts.

What is lateral run out?

Lateral usually means "side-to-side" as in wobble. Radial runout means "out-of round" as in oval or egg-shaped.

Is that a Spartan Hoplite in your avatar?

I'm pretty fastidious in my maintenance. Clean chains, rings and rear derailluer. Fenders and a good long front flap to help with minimizing wet road grit on the works.

On my morning commutes, I just wipe my eyes, get on and ride. My attitude is similar in the PM.

On weekends, I'll top off my tires and, at the same time, check for any debris that might potentially cause them to flat.

Never much more in the way of checking than that. Nothing is ever loose on my bike. I use wax based chain lube, so the interval between re-lubes is very long.

I check twice before lowering the garage door (it's on an electric opener/closer) to make certain I have keys to get back into the house. Locking yourself out can make for a longer ride than you planned.

That's about it.

Caruso

Lateral usually means "side-to-side" as in wobble. Radial runout means "out-of round" as in oval or egg-shaped.

Is that a Spartan Hoplite in your avatar?

I'm pretty fastidious in my maintenance. Clean chains, rings and rear derailluer. Fenders and a good long front flap to help with minimizing wet road grit on the works.

Thank you for the information. Yes, that is a Spartan Hoplite.

I will check the tires by squeezing to test pressure. I pump them up every other day to keep them at 110psi. If I have not been on the bike for a couple of days or it has been rained upon I will check the brakes since the cables sometime get grimy and not release the brake. That is it, I wash the bike every 2-3 weeks and do a complete drive chain lube.

Seeing as how Nos88 has proved that accidents can happen through bad maintenance--It set me thinking about pre-ride checks that I do to save the embarrassing Incidents.
...
So How about the rest of you? Or do you just take the bike out of the Garage and ride it till it falls apart?

err... embarrassing akzi-dents... ah yeah
1st ride on my Garage Queen Titan , last Oct, well remembered...

assembled the bike and put on some newish type wheels, kool stuff, flat blade spokes, quasi deep V rims, 9 spd cassette , woooooo... (fancy stuff for a guy accustomed to DT shifters...)
Sat AM Touring Club ride... I dress in my finest roadie kit, shine up the Queen and roll real easy to meet point. Everyone oogles the Purple Haze, and after the usually tire kicking we all assemble to get on the road. by position I'm first off, roll easy and at the driveway stand to check for cars. Then really lean on the pedal to put the cane to the Queen. Promptly the wheel slides in the drops and wedges against the chainstay. Over I go, still clipped in, landing in a Privot hedge next to the driveway.
Not embarrassed, mortified ;-/
Everyone has to stop, most gaffaw and clap. I need help cause I can't get up outta da bush... ;-)
Turns out the newish skewers aren't continous increasing pressure like the olde campys I'm accustomed to.
They ease up on pressure because on Modern vert dropouts, gorilla pressure isn;t necessary. The Garage Queen, however, is '88 Vintage with std of the day semi horizontal drops - one still needs to clamp down in those things ;-|

Okay, so did I learn anything? Nope, afterall I'm 16, still...
If I don;t check the bike the night before a ride, it don;t get checked. Traditionally I'm always late for a group ride thing, which means straight from the bathroom to the bike - it better be watered and waitin, Pony Express style... cause I'm usually doing a TT to the ride start point.